Pulsed catalytic supercharger silencer

Abstract

A pressure wave supercharger utilizes a rotor having closely spaced conduits in a rectangular array whose inside surfaces are provided with a catalyst for exothermic oxidation of incompletely burned exhaust gases. The size, geometry and length of the conduits are arranged to achieve maximum energy transfer of the sonic velocity exhaust gases and exothermic expansion of those gases in supercharging incoming air to the intake manifold. The spent gases are discharged to the atmosphere with a minimum of sonic energy.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A pulsed catalytic converter supercharger silencer for an internal combustion engine comprising an internal combustion engine having an air intake manifold and an exhaust manifold,   a generally cylindrical rotating member adapted to rotate about its cylindrical axis comprising   an air intake end,   an exhaust gas end, and   a plurality of closely spaced conduits disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of said cylindrical member fluidly communicating said air intake end with said exhaust gas end, said closely spaced conduits defining wave guides having dimensions sufficient to substantially attenuate sound waves above 1,000 Hz,   means defining a housing adapted to enclose said generally cylindrical rotating member, said housing comprising   an air intake end comprising   means defining an intake air manifold opening in fluid communication with said air intake manifold,   means defining a fresh air intake opening circumferentially adjacent to said intake air manifold opening in fluid communication with outside air,   an exhaust gas end comprising   means defining an exhaust gas manifold opening in fluid communication with said exhaust gas manifold and aligned with said air intake manifold opening distal said exhaust gas end,   means defining an exhaust gas outlet opening circumferentially adjacent to said exhaust gas manifold opening in fluid communication with outside atmosphere,   means for rotating said generally cylindrical rotating member about its cylindrical axis in a direction first exposing said air intake end to said fresh air intake opening and then exposing said air intake end to said intake air manifold openings while simultaneously first exposing said exhaust gas end to said exhaust gas manifold opening and then exposing said exhaust gas end to said outside atmosphere.   
     
     
       2. A pulsed catalytic converter supercharger silencer for an internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of closely spaced conduits disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of said cylindrical member fluidly communicating said air intake end with said exhaust gas end define wave guides having dimensions sufficient to substantially attenuate sound waves above 1,000 Hz by more than 50 percent. 
     
     
       3. A pulsed catalytic converter supercharger silencer for an internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of closely spaced conduits disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of said cylindrical member fluidly communicating said air intake end with said exhaust gas end comprise a plurality of closely spaced conduits have a length to width ratio greater than 96 to 1.   
     
     
       4. The pulsed catalytic supercharger silencer as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for injecting exhaust gases against said cylindrical rotating member at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said plurality of closely spaced conduit in the direction of rotation of said rotating member.   
     
     
       5. A pulsed catalytic converter supercharger silencer for an internal combustion engine comprising an internal combustion engine having an air intake manifold and an exhaust manifold,   a generally cylindrical rotating member adapted to rotate about its cylindrical axis comprising   an air intake end,   an exhaust gas end, and   a plurality of closely spaced conduits disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of said cylindrical member fluidly communicating said air intake end with said exhaust gas end, said closely spaced conduits defining wave guides having dimensions sufficient to substantially attenuate sound waves above 1,000 Hz,   means defining a housing adapted to enclose said generally cylindrical rotating member, said housing comprising   an air intake end comprising   means defining an intake air manifold opening in fluid communication with said air intake manifold,   means defining a fresh air intake opening circumferentially adjacent to said intake air manifold opening in fluid communication with outside air,   an exhaust gas end comprising   means defining an exhaust gas manifold opening in fluid communication with said exhaust gas manifold and aligned with said air intake manifold opening distal said exhaust gas end,   means defining an exhaust gas outlet opening circumferentially adjacent to said exhaust gas manifold opening in fluid communication with outside atmosphere,   means for rotating said generally cylindrical rotating member about its cylindrical axis in a direction first exposing said air intake end to said fresh air intake opening and then exposing said air intake end to said intake air manifold openings while simultaneously first exposing said exhaust gas end to said exhaust gas manifold opening and then exposing said exhaust gas end to said outside atmosphere.   
     
     
       6. A pulsed catalytic converter supercharger silencer for an internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 5 wherein said plurality of closely spaced conduits disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of said cylindrical member fluidly communicating said air intake end with said exhaust gas end define wave guides having dimensions sufficient to substantially attenuate sound waves above 1,000 Hz by more than 50 percent. 
     
     
       7. A pulsed catalytic converter supercharger silencer for an internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 5 wherein said plurality of closely spaced conduits disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of said cylindrical member fluidly communicating said air intake end with said exhaust gas end comprise a plurality of closely spaced conduits have a length to width ratio greater than 60 to 1.   
     
     
       8. The pulsed catalytic supercharger silencer as claimed in claim 5 further comprising means for injecting exhaust gases against said cylindrical rotating member at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said plurality of closely spaced conduit in the direction of rotation of said rotating member.   
     
     
       9. A pulsed catalytic converter supercharger silencer for an internal combustion engine comprising an internal combustion engine having an air intake manifold and an exhaust manifold,   a generally cylindrical rotating member adapted to rotate about its cylindrical axis comprising   an air intake end,   an exhaust gas end, and   a plurality of closely spaced conduits disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of said cylindrical member fluidly communicating said air intake end with said exhaust gas end, said closely spaced conduits defining wave guides having dimensions sufficient to substantially attenuate sound waves above 1,000 Hz,   the inside surface of said closely spaced conduits comprising means for exothermically converting toxic exhaust gases into less-toxic exhaust gases,   means defining a housing adapted to enclose said generally cylindrical rotating member, said housing comprising   an air intake end comprising   means defining a pair of intake air manifold openings disposed approximately 180 degrees to each other in fluid communication with said air intake manifold,   means defining a pair of fresh air intake openings circumferentially adjacent to said intake air manifold opening and disposed approximately 180 degrees to each other and in fluid communication with outside air,   an exhaust gas end comprising   means defining a pair of exhaust gas manifold openings disposed approximately 180 degrees to each other in fluid communication with said exhaust gas manifold and aligned with said pair of air intake manifold openings distal said exhaust gas end,   means defining a pair of exhaust gas outlet openings circumferentially adjacent to said exhaust gas manifold openings and disposed approximately 180 degrees to each other and in fluid communication with outside atmosphere,   means for rotating said generally cylindrical rotating member about its cylindrical axis in a direction first exposing said air intake end to said fresh air intake openings and then exposing said air intake end to said pair of intake air manifold openings while simultaneously first exposing said exhaust gas end to said exhaust gas manifold opening and then exposing said exhaust gas end to said outside atmosphere.   
     
     
       10. A pulsed catalytic converter supercharger silencer for an internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 9 wherein said plurality of closely spaced conduits disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of said cylindrical member fluidly communicating said air intake end with said exhaust gas end define wave guides having dimensions sufficient to substantially attenuate sound waves above 1,000 Hz by more than 50 percent. 
     
     
       11. A pulsed catalytic converter supercharger silencer for an internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 9 wherein said plurality of closely spaced conduits disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of said cylindrical member fluidly communicating said air intake end with said exhaust gas end comprise a plurality of closely spaced conduits have a length to width ratio greater than 96 to 1.   
     
     
       12. The pulsed catalytic supercharger silencer as claimed in claim 9 further comprising means for injecting exhaust gases against said cylindrical rotating member at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said plurality of closely spaced conduit in the direction of rotation of said rotating member.   
     
     
       13. A pulsed catalytic converter supercharger silencer for an internal combustion engine comprising an internal combustion engine having an air intake manifold and an exhaust manifold,   a generally cylindrical rotating member adapted to rotate about its cylindrical axis comprising   an air intake end,   an exhaust gas end, and   a plurality of closely spaced conduits disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of said cylindrical member fluidly communicating said air intake end with said exhaust gas end,   the inside surface of said closely spaced conduits comprising means for exothermically converting toxic exhaust gases into less-toxic exhaust gases,   said closely spaced conduits having an inside surface area and an end opening area sufficient to cause high velocity exhaust gases to frictionally engage the conduit walls and to expand due to exothermic catalytic chemical reactions of exhaust gas components to more stable compounds,   means defining a housing adapted to enclose said generally cylindrical rotating member, said housing comprising   an air intake end comprising   means defining a pair of intake air manifold openings disposed approximately 180 degrees to each other in fluid communication with said air intake manifold,   means defining a pair of fresh air intake openings circumferentially adjacent to said intake air manifold openings and disposed approximately 180 degrees to each other and in fluid communication with outside air,   an exhaust gas end comprising   means defining a pair of exhaust gas manifold openings disposed approximately 180 degrees to each other in fluid communication with said exhaust gas manifold and aligned with said pair of air intake manifold openings distal said exhaust gas end,   means defining a pair of exhaust gas outlet openings circumferentially adjacent to said exhaust gas manifold openings and disposed approximately 180 degrees to each other and in fluid communication with outside atmosphere,   means for rotating said generally cylindrical rotating member about its cylindrical axis in a direction first exposing said air intake end to said fresh air intake openings and then exposing said air intake end to said pair of intake air manifold openings while simultaneously first exposing said exhaust gas end to said exhaust gas manifold opening and then exposing said exhaust gas end to said outside atmosphere comprising   means for injecting exhaust gases from said exhaust gas manifold against said cylindrical rotating member at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said plurality of closely spaced conduit in the direction of rotation of said rotating member, and   means connected to said rotor for initiating rotary motion of said rotor and for preventing said rotor from exceeding a predetermined rotational speed.   
     
     
       14. The pulsed catalytic supercharger silencer for an internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 13 wherein said means connected to said rotor for initiating rotary motion of said rotor and for preventing said rotor from exceeding a predetermined rotational speed comprises and electrical power source,   a permanent magnet direct current motor mechanically connected to said rotor and electrically connected to said electrical power source.   
     
     
       15. In a pressure wave supercharger comprising an internal combustion engine having an air intake manifold and an exhaust manifold,   a generally cylindrical rotating member enclosed in a housing comprising   an air intake end comprising   means defining an intake air manifold opening in fluid communication with said air intake manifold,   means defining a fresh air intake openings cirumferentially adjacent to said intake air manifold opening in fluid communication with outside air,   an exhaust gas end comprising   means defining an exhaust gas manifold opening in fluid communication with said air intake manifold and aligned with said air intake manifold opening distal said exhaust gas end,   means defining an exhaust gas outlet opening circumferentially adjacent to said exhaust gas manifold opening and in fluid communication with outside atmosphere,   means for rotating said generally cylindrical rotating member about its cylindrical axis in a direction first exposing said air intake end to said fresh air intake opening and then exposing said air intake end to said intake air manifold opening while simultaneously first exposing said exhaust gas end to said exhaust gas manifold opening and then exposing said exhaust gas end to said outside atmosphere,   wherein the improvement comprises   said rotating member comprises   an air intake end,   an exhaust gas end, and   a plurality of closely spaced conduits disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of said cylindrical member fluidly communicating said air intake end with said exhaust gas end,   the inside surface of said closely spaced conduits comprising means for exothermically converting toxic exhaust gases into less-toxic exhaust gases,   said closely spaced conduits having an inside surface area and an end opening area sufficient to cause high velocity exhaust gases to frictionally engage the conduit walls and to expand due to exothermic catalytic chemical reactions of exhaust gas components to more stable compounds,   means for injecting exhaust gases from said exhaust gas manifold against said cylindrical rotating member at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said plurality of closely spaced conduit in the direction of rotation of said rotating member, and   means connected to said rotor for initiating rotary motion of said rotor and for preventing said rotor from exceeding a predetermined rotational speed.   
     
     
       16. The pulsed catalytic supercharger silencer for an internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 15 wherein said means connected to said rotor and initiating rotary motion of said rotor and for preventing said rotor from exceeding a predetermined rotational speed comprises and electrical power source,   a permanent magnet direct current motor mechanically connected to said rotor and electrically connected to said electrical power source.   
     
     
       17. In a pressure wave supercharger comprising an internal combustion engine having an air intake manifold and an exhaust manifold,   a generally cylindrical rotating member enclosed is a housing comprising   an air intake end comprising   means defining an intake air manifold opening in fluid communication with said air intake manifold,   means defining a fresh air intake openings circumferentially adjacent to said intake air manifold opening in fluid communication with outside air,   an exhaust gas end comprising   means defining an exhaust gas manifold opening in fluid communication with said exhaust gas end and aligned with said air intake manifold opening distal said exhaust gas end,   means defining an exhaust gas outlet opening circumferentially adjacent to said exhaust gas manifold opening in fluid communication with outside atmosphere,   means for rotating said generally cylindrical rotating member about its cylindrical axis in a direction first exposing said air intake end to said fresh air intake opening and then exposing said air intake end to said intake air manifold opening while simultaneously first exposing said exhaust gas end to said exhaust gas manifold opening and then exposing said exhaust gas end to said outside atmosphere,   wherein the improvement comprises   said rotating member comprises   an air intake end,   an exhaust gas end, and   a plurality of closely spaced conduits disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of said cylindrical member fluidly communicating said air intake end with said exhaust gas end, said closely spaced conduits having a length to width ratio greater than 96 to 1,   the inside surface of said closely spaced conduits comprising means for exothermically converting toxic exhaust gases into less-toxic exhaust gases.   
     
     
       18. The pulsed catalytic supercharger silencer as claimed in claim 17 further comprising means for injecting exhaust gases against said cylindrical rotating member at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said plurality of closely spaced conduit in the direction of rotation of said rotating member.   
     
     
       19. In a pressure wave supercharger comprising an internal combustion engine having an air intake manifold and an exhaust manifold, a generally cylindrical rotating member enclosed is a housing comprising   an air intake end comprising   means defining an intake air manifold opening in fluid communication with said air intake manifold,   means defining a fresh air intake openings circumferentially adjacent to said intake air manifold opening in fluid communication with outside air,   an exhaust gas end comprising   means defining an exhaust gas manifold opening in fluid communication with said exhaust gas end and aligned with said air intake manifold opening distal said exhaust gas end,   means defining an exhaust gas outlet opening circumferentially adjacent to said exhaust gas manifold opening in fluid communication with outside atmosphere,   means for rotating said generally cylindrical rotating member about its cylindrical axis in a direction first exposing said air intake end to said fresh air intake opening and then exposing said air intake end to said intake air manifold opening while simultaneously first exposing said exhaust gas end to said exhaust gas manifold opening and then exposing said exhaust gas end to said outside atmosphere,   wherein the improvement comprises   said rotating member comprises   an air intake end,   an exhaust gas end, and   a plurality of closely spaced conduits disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of said cylindrical member fluidly communicating said air intake end with said exhaust gas end, said closely spaced conduits placed in an ordered rectangular array,   the inside surface of said closely spaced conduits comprising means for exothermically converting toxic exhaust gases into less-toxic exhaust gases.   
     
     
       20. The pulsed catalytic supercharger silencer as claimed in claim 19 further comprising means for injecting exhaust gases against said cylindrical rotating member at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said plurality of closely spaced conduit in the direction of rotation of said rotating member.   
     
     
       21. In a pressure wave supercharger comprising an internal combustion engine having an air intake manifold and an exhaust manifold,   a generally cylindrical rotating member enclosed in a housing comprising   an air intake end comprising   means defining an intake air manifold opening in fluid communication with said air intake manifold,   means defining a fresh air intake openings circumferentially adjacent to said intake air manifold opening in fluid communication with outside air,   an exhaust gas end comprising   means defining an exhaust gas manifold opening in fluid communication with said air intake manifold and aligned with said air intake manifold opening distal said exhaust gas end,   means defining an exhaust gas outlet opening circumferentially adjacent to said exhaust gas manifold opening and in fluid communication with outside atmosphere,   means for rotating said generally cylindrical rotating member about its cylindrical axis in a direction first exposing said air intake end to said fresh air intake opening and then exposing said air intake end to said intake air manifold opening while simultaneously first exposing said exhaust gas end to said exhaust gas manifold opening and then exposing said exhaust gas end to said outside atmosphere,   wherein the improvement comprises   said rotating member comprises   an air intake end,   an exhaust gas end, and   a plurality of closely spaced conduits disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of said cylindrical member fluidly communicating said air intake end with said exhaust gas end,   means for injecting exhaust gases from said exhaust gas manifold against said cylindrical rotating member at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said plurality of closely spaced conduit in the direction of rotation of said rotating member, and   means connected to said rotor and initiating rotary motion of said rotor and for preventing said rotor from exceeding a predetermined rotational speed.   
     
     
       22. The pulsed catalytic supercharger silencer for an internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 16 wherein said means connected to said rotor for initiating rotary motion of said rotor and for preventing said rotor from exceeding a predetermined rotational speed comprises and electrical power source,   a permanent magnet direct current motor mechanically connected to said rotor and electrically connected to said electrical power source.